The Dillon tribune., 1887-02-18


such force as to lar into uninte!lisibi''tv
bitter inpreca.ion he had constructed 'o'
the emergency. He struck in front OF the
sergeant, who instantly fired at Aunt Deo'
by's mare, sending :. bullet through tic
faithful animal, which sank To her knees
and threw l,er rider to the ground. WIN
ou, waiting to rise. and he was not certain
tina: h. could, Abe fired his muskct, and
missed both man and horse. HE scram'
bled to his feet and ran iuriously at the
Confederate will, raised gun. The SER
ccan. fired wildly at him, when Bolton
struck the auima. violent blow across the
head. I, recoiled, slipped and in another
ins,an, ha! fallen over the side Of the road
and crushed his rider on the rocks below.
Five OF t:,v wagon guard, who were riding
ahead Oft wagon, yslloped forward at
the sound Of the shots. Fortner, Edwards
add Harry Glen tired irto these, and three
saddles we're emp,ied. The remaining two
men whirlcd their horses around, fired
wildly into the air and dashed back upo"
the plunging team, with which the driver
was vainly struggling. The ground
quivcred as the frightened animals stuck
together; they we're crushed back upo"
their launches. and beat one another
cruelty with their mighty hoo's. Wagon
horses and men reeled on the brink an
Asonizing instant; the white faced driver
dropped the lines and sprang to the secure
ground; the riders strained with the encr'
~ oi deadly fear to tear themselves loose
from their stceds, but in vain. Then the
frantic mass crashed down the jagged
rocks, tearing up the stunted cedars as !:
they we're weeds, and fell with sounding
81 ash on the limestone bed OF the shallow
creek.
Fortncr, Glen and Edwards came down
a. quickly as possible. the latter sprain'ng
hi, ankle badly by making venturesome
leap to reach the road first. They found
the man that Fortncr had shot at stone dead,
with bullet through his temple. The
other two had been struck in the body.
Their horses stood near, looking wonder.
ingly at their PROSTATE masters.
Bolton was rubbing his bruises and abra.
sions and vitupcrating everything, from the
conduct Of the war 10 the steepness Of Ken.
tucky mountains. Aunt Debby had par
tally recovered from the stunning Of her
! fall, and limped slowly up, with her long
riding sk;r, raised by one hand. Her
lips were compressed, and her great gray
ewes blazed with excitement.
They all went 10 the side Of the road and
looked down at the crushed and bleeding
mass in the creek.
my God: that's awful" said Harry
with rising sickness about his heart. as
the excitement began subsiding.
"Plenty good enuf fur scoundrcls who
rob poor men OF all they hev," said Fort.
ner, tierccly, as he reloaded his rifle.
"Hits not bad enuf fur thieves and rob.
bcrs."
"Hits Gods judgment ON the wicked am
the oppressor," said Aun. Debbv, with
solemn pitilessness.
Hadn't We better &c. down there, and
help those men out:" suggested Harry.
"Pcrhars they arc not dead yet"
Aunt Debhy, ,hct thar hoss ,he.'. rails.
in his head an whinnyin' said Fortner
with sudden interest. "is Joel Spriggs' roam
gcldin'. >ho's yo'rc bon, honey" Ht
pointed 70 where a shapcly head was
raised, and almost human agony looked
GU, OF the great liquid eyes. "Thct va.
the finest hoss in Laurel county, an
they've stole i'm from Joel. Hit'll 'bou
break his heart fur he set a powerful! sigh,
O store on thct ere beast. Pore c,i:,er
hit makes me sick ter see i'm suffer thct 4
!, way. I've mind ter put i'm outen hi,
: misery, hu. I'm altered can't shoe, in
! SO long cz he looks at me with them bi!
pi,itu, eyes o his'n. They go righ. to IN,
! heart"
! "Iou't better shoot him." urged .Aun
I Debby. Hits sin ter le. an inncrcen
e cri,,rr suffer the, away"
d Former raised his rife, and sent 4 bul!e
c through the mang!ed hrate'> brain.
Aunt Debby's eyes became fixed OH
e poin, where. mile away down the mount
ain. bend in the road was visible throuz
n an opening in the trees.
Look OUT" she said, as the rlhoe.
e the sho. died away; '',har comes hall K
r on EN-
They looked, and SAW plainly !ars
et squad Of cavalry, with wagon behind.
D. I'VE must get ousen heah, an tn
'e quick" said for,ner. decisivciy. u
n. caught one OF the horses, and shortened